Be wary of phone scams, sheriff’s office says

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office on Monday warned of an over-the-phone scam that asks county people for money.

In a news release, the county said it has been notified of a scam in which someone who identifies himself as law enforcement demands immediate payment for unpaid fines or unsatisfied warrants.

The scammers have been known to make threats of incarceration in an attempt to trick people into paying. The sheriff’s office encourages people to not give out personal information over the phone and never pay over the phone with a gift card or prepaid debit card unless they initiated the purchase.

The sheriff’s office does not collect fines by phone, according to the release. Anyone who has been a victim of this scam should notify law enforcement.

This story was originally published December 12, 2016 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Be wary of phone scams, sheriff’s office says."